Chapter 293: Commission
Three months later.
Kingdom of Ashen, Northwind Keep, Office of Magical Affairs.
"Mage, please—save my husband! He’s been lost in the Labyrinth for three days now! I’ll give you everything—I’ll do anything!"
A plain-clad woman knelt before Charlotte, clutching the hem of his robes, her face streaked with tears and snot, voice raw from crying.
The Quest Panel shimmered into view before him.
[Experience Points: Explore the Labyrinth]
Quest Description: Underground Merchant Krus vanished mysteriously inside a cave. What was supposed to be a secret smuggling shortcut turned into a deadly Labyrinth due to a failed trap mechanism. Strange monsters are said to be roaring within its depths.
Reward: 5 gold coins, unknown Experience Points (XP)
Charlotte rubbed the back of his head with a sigh. "Alright, let’s take this one."
The reward was pitiful—only five gold coins. If they sent too many people, the cost of the mission might exceed the payout. But the promise of Experience Points was enough to make Charlotte bite the bullet. After all, this was a chance to help new players level up.
It had been three months since the Server Launch. The 【Magic Coin】 guild, a prestigious Mage house, had attracted a massive influx of new players, swelling its ranks to an unprecedented 300 members. Yet, one thing remained desperately scarce: Experience Points.
Most newcomers were still stuck at levels two or three, far behind the Veteran Beta Testers. Charlotte himself had reached level six—so he couldn’t afford to pass up any opportunity to push his guild’s newbies forward. This was more than a quest—it was a trial.
"Thank you, thank you, sir!" The woman sobbed, her voice cracking. Charlotte quickly pulled her to her feet. As a player from the modern world, he still wasn’t used to the raw, naked display of hierarchy—especially not in such a desperate context.
But to her, it was nothing short of miraculous. She wasn’t from Northwind Keep. In the Northern Regions, Spellcasters were gods among men—nobles bowed to them, invited them to their feasts, treated them as sacred. For someone like her, a commoner, getting help from a Mage was like begging the stars for rain.
Now, though, the people of Northwind Keep had grown accustomed to these “special” Spellcasters offering aid. They even came here to Commission help finding lost pets—cats, dogs, even the occasional goat. Magic had seeped into daily life, no longer a distant, untouchable force.
Charlotte opened his Character Sheet and broadcast a message in the Forum’s new “Guild Group” channel.
Charlotte: Come on down—Quest incoming! Experience Task, no gold, but we need one Internal Test Player to bring three Newcomers.
Charlotte: Lonely Like Snow, you’re in too.
Lonely Like Snow: ?
Flying Witch: Hehe, then it’s my turn to lead! ヾ(▽‘)
The message hadn’t even finished sending when a reply came—immediately.
The one and only, legendary Flying Witch, had responded.
Silence fell across the group.
No new player dared speak. They all knew what happened last time. That wild, unpredictable wizard had taken six greenhorns into a dungeon with zero planning. What should’ve been a safe, routine run turned into a nightmare. Her Magic Surge triggered a Stink Cloud so powerful it nearly wiped out the entire party. The video of that disaster had been posted to the Forum under the thread “Wild Wizard Charisma Moments,” and it was still legendary among players.
Flying Witch: Huh? Why’s everyone so quiet? Σ(っ°Д°;)っ
Lonely Like Snow: Guild Leader… can I quit?
Charlotte: No.
Charlotte: Lucky Emperor, you’re coming with her. And Jiu Li—you’re not escaping either. You two have the lowest XP.
Lucky Emperor: ?
Jiu Li: ???
Lucky Emperor: Guild Leader, are you seriously sending us on a mission with the Witch Lady? This is a suicide run!
Charlotte: Two level-two noobs? You’re useless sitting here. Might as well take a risk. Otherwise, I’ll exile you to the Mines—Black Slave duty.
Lonely Like Snow: What about me? I’m already level four!
Charlotte: I trust you. You’re the team’s solid Tank—no, Support.
Flying Witch: Then let’s prep and depart! ()
Lonely Like Snow: …
And so, against their wills, the four-person party was finally assembled.
A Paladin. Two barely competent Noob Mages. One high-level Wild Wizard. A composition as chaotic as it was unpredictable.
Lonely Like Snow stood at the door, fully armored in Refined Gold Heavy Armor, wielding a Silver Great Shield—a walking tank. But the casual onlookers didn’t bat an eye. After all, this was a world where Stellarfallen defied logic. They’d seen naked people strolling through the streets without a second thought.
"Ugh…"
"Feels like I’ve been scammed…"
The face beneath his helmet looked like it wanted to cry—but no tears came.
He’d joined this game to be a dominant battlefield warrior, a hero who battled monsters head-on. Now, he was stuck on the Tank path—forever.
As a Crown’s Oath Holy Knight meticulously trained by 【Magic Coin】, he’d chosen defense as his specialization. He could Channel Divine Power to force enemies into solo duels, allowing teammates to focus on damage. At level five, he unlocked Guardian Link, a Divine Skill that let him absorb and split damage from his allies. Paired with his Unbreakable Refined Gold Heavy Armor, he was a fortress on the battlefield—perfect for team functionality.
No wonder Charlotte valued him so highly.
"Hi! You’re early!"
"Don’t worry—this time, nothing’s going to go wrong!"
Flying Witch’s cheerful voice rang out as she bounced over, slapping Lonely Like Snow on the shoulder with cheerful energy.
The man under the helm offered a weary, forced smile. To him, the sweet-faced, magical-girl-dressed “senior” player was nothing short of a devil. After all, she’d once wiped out her own team with a single spell.
"Uh… hi…"
Not long after, two more Mages arrived—dressed in rough, worn robes, looking miserable and hesitant, unsure what to say.
They were the infamous African Duo, burdened by debt from Opening Boxes. Charlotte had “kindly” recruited them into the guild, and now they were drowning in daily debt repayments. They had no time to grind or level up. The other guild members mocked them mercilessly.
But like the Four Heavenly Kings always had a fifth, the African Duo had their own hidden member—Charlotte himself. Of course, they only whispered this in private. They were terrified of triggering a secondary trauma to their Guild Leader’s already fragile mind.
"Alright, everyone’s here!"
Flying Witch, full of energy, declared.
"Let’s go! Destination: Underground Labyrinth!"
"I’m going to show these newcomers—this is what reliability from a Senior Veteran looks like!"
She clenched her fist, determination burning in her eyes.
This was her second time leading new players. No mistakes. No excuses.
"Yes."
Three voices echoed back—weak, lifeless, and utterly unenthusiastic.
(End of Chapter)
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